February 14, 2007
Four members of the Texas A&M men?â„¢s swimming and diving team were named to the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 Team, the conference office announced.
Junior Alejandro Jacobo was named to the Big 12?â„¢s first team, while seniors Ozzie Gardner and Francisco Picasso and sophomore John Van Natta earned spots on the second team.
Jacobo, a management major from Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, is the team?â„¢s leader in the 100- and 200-yard breastroke and swims the breaststroke leg on A&M?â„¢s top 200- and 400-yard medley relays.
Gardner, a philosophy major from Kearns, Utah, is a two-time Big 12 Champion and multiple-time All-American, but is sitting out 2006-07 with an injury.
Picasso, an electrical engineering major from Montevideo, Uruguay, is a returning Big 12 Champion and is the team leader in the 100-yard freestyle. Picasso also swims a leg on A&M?â„¢s top 200 and 400 freestyle and medley relays.
Van Natta, a petroleum engineering major from The Woodlands, Texas, ranks No. 4 on the team in the 200-yard butterfly.
Nominated by each institution?â„¢s director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the men?â„¢s academic all-league swimming & diving squad consisted of 18 first team members combined with 10 on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his/her team?â„¢s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.